Means for utilizing waste power in dredges.



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APPLICATION FILED my 21, 1907.

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UNITED STATES PATENT oFrIo-E.

ROBERT-M. WI LsoN, or ski; FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

MEANS FOR UTILIZING WASTE POWER INv DREDGES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 28, i908.

Application filed May 21, 1907. Serial No. 374,957.

swinging boom, carrying abucket, is swung to one side of the dredger to discharge the load from the bucket, whereupon the weight of the boom, and of the bucket and load, depresses theside of the hull of the dredger at which the load is being discharged.

The object of the present invention is to utilize the weight of the overhan ing boom and of the bucket and load when tins swing ing to one side, to generate power. Incidentally, also, there isobtained the advantage of increased steadiness in the hull of the dredger. 1

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a cross section of the dredger; Fig. 2' is a broken side view; Fig. 3 is a broken cross section, the dredger being tilted; Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail longitudinal section of the hinge or foot for the lower end of the boom. Referring to the drawing, 1 indicates the hull of a dredger, 2 the boom thereof, and 3 the bucket carried by said boom. ing this style of dredger it is the practice to permit the bucket to descend to the bed of the body of water being excavated, and

automatically take up the load from saidbed; the bucket is then raised and the boom swung to one side; and the load is then discharged on the levee or other part where desired. Since the boom, bucket, and load are necessarily of considerable weight, and the bucket and load when so swung are suspended from the end of the boom at considerable distance from the axial line of the hull of the dredger, it results that by the swinging of the boom to one side the hull of the dredger is considerably depressed on that side. I therefore utilize the weight of the overhanging bucket and load and of the boom in the following manner.

Pivoted at 4 to the posts 20 of the frame used for raising and lowering the side spuds 2.1 of the dredger are horizontal walking beams 6, to the outer ends of'which are piv- In operat-.

otally connected the upper ends of pitmen 7,. the lower ends of which are pivotally con- I nected to parts 8 secured to'the sides of the hull by bars 10. These parts 8 are stationary, or nearly so, relative to the dredger hull.

Thus they may either be floats, if the dredger is not close to the bank, or they may rest on the bottom of the river or other body of water being excavated, or they may rest upon the bank if the dredger is sufficiently near thereto. The inner ends of the walking beams 6 are pivotally connected to pistons 11 which reciprocate in pumps or air compressors.

Secured to the deck 12 of the hull by bolts 13 is a plate 14, on which is pivoted by a central pin 15 a rotating base 16 in which is hinged, by a hinge pin 18, a socket 17 in which is stepped the lower end of the boom 2. This arrangement permits the boom to swing in either direction, as well as to be raised and lowered.

The operation is therefore as follows: When the boom swings to one side its weight and that of the bucket and load depresses the hull on that side, and thus also depresses the pivot of the walking beam on that side, forcing the piston on that side down on its cylinder. At the same time the piston on the other side is moved upwards in its cylinder. When the boom returns to its central position the latter piston now descends to its cylinder, and the former piston ascends. By this means pressure fluid is stored in the receiver, which may be utilized as desired.

I claim:

1. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with the hull of a dredger, and a boom thereon adapted to swing to a side of the dredger, and means for carrying a load at the end of said boom, a device supported at the side of the dredger independently thereof, and means carried by the dredger and movable therewith as it rocks transversely with the swinging movement of the boom, said means co-acting with said device to generate power, substantially as described.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with the hull of a dredger, and a boom thereon adapted to swing to a side of the dredger, and means for carrying a load at the end of said boom, a device supported at the side of the dredger independently thereof, and means carried by In testimony whereof I have hereunto set the dredger and movable therewith as it my hand in the presence of two subscribing, rocks transversely with the swinging movewitnesses.

ment of the boom, said means oo-acting with ROBERT M. WILSON. said device to generate power, and means for Witnesses:

storing the power so generated, substantially C. L. HOWE,

as described. D. B. RICHARDS. 

